instructionsfor-many-of-the-characters-we-encounter-in-nagai-kafu-samerican-stories-the-united-states-is-less-an-interesting-or-enticing-society-in-its-own-right-than-a-means-to-changing-their-social-standing-back-in-japan-social-status-in-japan-is-dete

Your essay should be 4-5 pages, double-spaced, in 12pt. Times New Roman font, with

standard margins. Excessive or inadequate length will be penalized. You do not need to

refer to all of

Kafū’s

stories, but your paper should engage with AT LEAST two.

You may use any

recognized citation style

with which you are familiar, but all quotations

from the text and any other written sources, such as the textbook, must be acknowledged.

Do not cite lecture material. References to readings beyond those listed on the syllabus

are permitted but not required. Failure to cite correctly will be penalized. Please consult

our course TA, David Harris, if you have citation questions.

The professor is available during office hours and by appointment for questions and

consultations, and will read drafts and discuss in person (not over email).

This assignment is worth 20% of your grade for the course. For full credit, submit your

essay in the designated dropbox (titled “Essay II”) on Canvas by 3 p.m. on Nov. 20. Late

assignments will be marked down 1/3 of a letter grade per day counting from 3:01 p.m.

(i.e., from a B+ to a B for one day late, with zero credit available after two weeks (i.e.,

after 3 p.m. on Dec. 4)). No papers will be accepted by email or in hard copy. Students

who do not turn in a paper by 5 p.m. on the final day of instruction will not pass the

course, regardless of the quality of their other work.

Rubric for evaluation of papers:

A range

: Paper ventures beyond what has been said in lecture to produce a subtle

and effective argument. Prose is clear and readable. (Please note: your papers will

be evaluated for both content and style.)

B range

: Paper makes effective use of material presented in lecture, but may not

venture beyond what has been said by the professor in constructing an argument.

Prose may contain some errors of style and grammar, but is on the whole

comprehensible.

C range

: Paper does not effectively address the question, and may contain

inaccurate or irrelevant statements. Poor writing may interfere with the

transmission of the argument. Paper may be inadequate in length and contain

clear evidence of failure to proofread for style, grammar, spelling and other

writing errors.

D range

: Paper lacks an argument and/or evidence of effort on the part of the

student. Writing is thoroughly sloppy and length is inadequate.

F range

: Paper is unacceptable for submission as a college-level history

assignment. Students who receive an F on a paper they have turned in are likely to

fail the course.